Every year at Pops by the Sea, one lucky bidder has the opportunity to win the coveted Maestro's Baton and to lead the orchestra in a rousing rendition of John Phillip Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever. Often a group gets together to honor a friend, co-worker or family member. They spend the summer raising funds, concoct elaborate ruses to fool their unsuspecting friend and then surprise them just before intermission with this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Past winners have included former police chief Jim Gardiner, auctioneer and retired Cuesta College Vice President Gil Stork, State Assemblyman and now State Senator Sam Blakeslee, patrons of the arts Peggy Peterson and Beverly Smith, Symphony Executive Director Sandi Sigurdson, Missie Hobson of PG&E and the ever-smiling former SLO City Manager, John Dunn.
Get in on the excitement of the bidding or start your own conspiracy! It all benefits Symphony artistic and music education programs.Who will it be this year? Shhhhhhhhhhhhh......... it's a secret!
Check out last year's winner of the Maestro's Baton -- Liz Summer!
